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Government's response further abuses child-sex victims
By Judy Courtin
I just received a text message from a man, now in his early 50s, who was anally raped by a "Christian" brother when he was 12 years old. He said: "I can't go on any more. That's me done". This very brave survivor, who has been facing his demons all these years, has also been fighting tirelessly for justice for all survivors of child sex crimes, especially for adequate financial support and redress. Like thousands of others, he has, at great personal risk, opened his heart and soul and told his story to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the responses by non-government organsiations into child sexual abuse and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Last week, on the first day of a three-day public hearing at the Royal Commission into redress schemes for victims of child sex crimes, many of this man's hopes were dashed and he felt his years of dedicated work had come to nought. In January, the Royal Commission published a consultation paper on possible types of redress schemes for child sexual assault victims. According to the commission and many other organisations, state and territory governments and victims and their families, the most effective and fair approach would be delivered by a national redress scheme that would be run by the federal government, but, on the whole, paid for by all government and non-government institutions where the crimes occurred. The Royal Commission also proposed that the federal government be a "funder of last resort" for those victims who would be sidelined and ignored because their school or institution doesn't exist any more. The federal government scoffed at the need for a national redress scheme and said it would not be involved. It would be too time-consuming, too complex and cost too much money. The government, although invited, did not send a representative to the public hearings, although it did manage to submit a two and a half page submission in response to the consultation paper. The Royal Commissioners were reported as being "disappointed" by the government's rejection of "… an approach that is overwhelmingly supported … as being most likely to ensure a just, fair and consistent outcome for all victims…" This haughty rebuff of the Royal Commission's proposal to co-ordinate such a redress scheme is indicative of the Abbott government's contempt for child victims of sex crimes. But what it means in reality though, for the estimated 65,000 survivors of child sex crimes in this country, is that our federal government is telling these already vulnerable people, to bugger off and go and fend for themselves. If they want compensation, they should just go back and fight the institution where the crimes occurred, such as the Catholic Church or a state government. It is very well documented, by my research and the two inquiries, that victims who have gone back to the Catholic church, for example, looking for justice, have come away not only traumatised and abused by that experience itself, but with insultingly puny amounts of ex gratia compensation, if anything at all. It seems that when it comes to money, things get mean and dirty. The potential ripple effects of this blatant abandonment are disturbing. Families and communities around the country are trying to prevent further suicides of loved ones who were sexually assaulted as children. In the region of Ballarat alone, there have been at least 10 reported suicides in the past 12 months alone. This is to be added to the pre-existing 45-50 victims in this region who took their own lives in the years following child sex crimes. Tragically and frighteningly, similar statistics are repeated in other regions of the country. Victims and their families have been fighting for recognition and justice for decades and great victories were achieved when the Victorian inquiry and the Royal Commission were established. But "for what?" they say now. Such is the impact on victims of the government's abusive and regressive response to the Royal Commission's proposal. The federal government must support, and take responsibility for, a national redress scheme; it cannot afford not to. The costs to the community and government will be far more if adequate compensation is not paid, and support not given to victims. How many more suicides and how much more harm and anguish must there be before the Abbott government takes these issues seriously? Our federal government has been offered the perfect opportunity to not only do the right thing and carry out its domestic and international obligations through the United Nations, but also set an example to others by embracing these responsibilities and displaying some leadership. Alas, it seems it doesn't have the balls.
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